sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abednego Mazibuko, Albert Mazibuko, Amabutho, Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lucky Dube

CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Th ursday, March , , pm city of , which provided him the oppor- Zellerbach Hall tunity to seek work in a factory. Leaving the fam- Mention African song and most people think of ily farm was not easy, but it was during this time South African practitioners of the vocal arts— that Joseph fi rst showed a talent for singing. After , Miriam Makeba and, perhaps singing with several groups in Durban, he returned Ladysmith Black Mambazo more than anyone else in recent memory, Ladysmith to his hometown of Ladysmith and began to put Black Mambazo. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has together groups of his own. come to represent the traditional culture of South He was rarely satisfi ed with the results. “I felt Africa. Th ey are regarded as ’s cultural there was something missing…. I tried to teach the emissaries at home and around the world. In , music that I felt, but I failed until , when a at ’s request, Black Mambazo harmonious dream came to me. I always heard the accompanied the future President to the Nobel harmony from that dream and I said ‘Th is is the Peace Prize ceremony in , Norway. Mambazo sound that I want and I can teach it to my guys.’” sang again at President Mandela’s inauguration in In the early years, Joseph recruited members May . Th ey are a national treasure of the new of his family, and friends—brothers Headman and South Africa, in part because they embody the Jockey, cousins Albert and traditions suppressed in the old South Africa. and others. Joseph taught the group the harmonies It has been nearly  years since from his dreams. With time and patience, Joseph’s made his initial trip to South Africa and met Jo- work began to gel into a special sound. seph and the other members of Lady- Th e name Ladysmith Black Mambazo came smith Black Mambazo in a recording studio in about as a result of winning every singing com- . Having listened to a cassette of petition in which the group entered. “Ladysmith” their music sent by a D.J. based in Los Angeles, is the hometown of the Shabalala family; “Black” Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, makes reference to black oxen, considered to be the alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the strongest on the farm. Th e Zulu word “Mambazo” traditional sounds of black South Africa into the refers to an ax—symbolic of the group’s ability to Graceland album, a project regarded by many as “chop down” the competition. So good were they, seminal to today’s explosive interest in World Mu- that after a time they were forbidden to enter the sic. competitions but welcomed, of course, to enter- Th e traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black tain at them. Mambazo is called (meaning “on tip- A radio broadcast in  brought about their toe”) and was born in the mines of South Africa. fi rst recording contract. Since then, the group has recorded more than  albums, selling over six Black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families. Poorly housed million records at home and abroad and establish- and paid worse, they would entertain themselves ing themselves as the number-one selling musical after a six-day week by singing songs into the wee group from Africa. Th eir work with Paul Simon hours every Sunday morning. Cothoza Mfana they attracted a world of fans that never knew that the sounds of Zulu harmony could be so captivating. Th ulani Shabalala called themselves, “tip-toe guys,” referring to the dance steps choreographed so as to not disturb the Th eir fi rst album released in the United States, Th amsanqa Shabalala camp security guards. When miners returned to Shaka Zulu, was produced by Simon and won the the homelands, the tradition returned with them. Grammy Award in  for Best Traditional Folk Abednego Mazibuko Th ere began a fi erce but social competition held Recording. Since then, they have been nominated regularly and a highlight of everyone’s social cal- for a Grammy Award eight additional times. In endar. Th e winners were awarded a goat for their , they were awarded their second Grammy eff orts and, of course, the adoration of their fans. Award for Best Traditional Record- Cal Performance dedicates this to the memory of Jockey Shabalala. Th ese competitions are held even today in YMCA ing for the release Raise Your Spirit Higher. On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, a docu- Th is performance is made possible, in part, by the generous support of the members of the assembly halls and church basements throughout mentary fi lm which is the story of Joseph Shabalala Cal Performances Producers Circle and Friends of Cal Performances. “Zululand.” In the mid-s, Joseph Shabalala took ad- and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated Cal Performances thanks our Centennial Season Sponsor, Wells Fargo. vantage of his proximity to the urban sprawl of the for an Academy Award as Best Short Documen-

20 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 21 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS tary Film in  and an Emmy Award in  and now the Queen of . It is quite a dream continue to spread the word of Joseph’s dream of ter are a virtual who’s who of South African artists, for Best Cultural Documentary on American tele- for a Zulu South African to dream.” preservation through education while encouraging such as , Bhekumunzi Luthuli, Vusi vision. Th e group has also performed at two Nobel all those who can, to give their support. Mahlasela, , Nokukhanya, Phuez- Th e group has also recorded with numerous Peace Prize Ceremonies, a performance Pope John Joseph’s appointment as an associate profes- khemisi and Th andiswa. artists from around the world besides Paul Simon. Paul II in Rome, South African Presidential inau- sor of ethno musicology at the University of Natal Th e track sequence follows the chronology of Some of these include Stevie Wonder, Dolly Par- gurations, the  Summer Olympics, a Muham- as well as a recent teaching position with UCLA their extensive history of recording, beginning with ton, Ben Harper, Th e Wynans and George Clin- mad Ali television special, music award shows from in California, has given him a taste of the life of “Nomathemba,” the hit song originally released in ton. Th eir fi lm work includes a featured appear- around the world, and many other special events. a scholar. “It’s just like performing,” says Joseph.  on the group’s album. Th e album ance in ’s Moonwalker and Spike In summer , Mambazo was again asked to “You work all day, correcting the mistakes, encour- closes with “Th ula Th ula,” a new composition not Lee’s Do It A Cappella. Mambazo has provided represent their nation in for a celebration aging the young ones to be confi dent in their ac- previously heard on any Mambazo album. Th is soundtrack material for Disney’s Th e Lion King II, for Queen Elizabeth II’s th anniversary as mon- tion. And if they do not succeed I always criticize simple song features the lone voice of Mambazo Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America, Marlon Bran- arch, dubbed “Th e Party at the Palace.” Ladysmith myself. I am their teacher. Th ey are willing to learn. leader and founder Joseph Shabalala, who displays do’s A Dry White Season, James Earl Jones’s Cry the Black Mambazo joined with , Rod But it is up to me to see they learn correctly.” the broad dynamic range and emotional depth that Beloved Country and Sean Connery’s League of Ex- Stewart, and Sir Paul McCartney on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s new album, Long has served as the driving force behind his history- traordinary Gentlemen. songs “” and “All You Need Walk to Freedom, was released in January . making a cappella group for more than  years. Th eir list of advertisements include award-win- Is Love.” After the concert members of the group Th e album is a collection of  new recordings of Th e story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo is ning commercials for -Up and Life Savers Candy, joined a private party in , where classic Mambazo songs, featuring guest vocal per- about more than just music. It is about the historic as well as an “on camera” appearance for an IBM they engaged in private conversations with Prince formances by some of the most progressive voices struggle of a great nation. Much of that rich and television campaign, “Solutions for a Small Planet.” Charles, his sons, Princes William and Harry, and of the contemporary pop music scene, including bittersweet history is captured on this new record- In , Heinz Beans UK used a Mambazo song Prime Minister Tony Blair. , , , ing. Ladysmith Black Mambazo invites the audi- for a television advertisement that was so popular, Time does not seem to be slowing down the Joe McBride, Sarah McLachlan, ence to join them and their cadre of stellar guests it helped the group’s CD at that time sell over one group as they continue to travel the world, meet- and Zap Mama. Also appearing on the guest ros- on the Long Walk to Freedom. million copies. ing new friends and reaching new audiences. Th is Mambazo has worked in the theater as well. allows Joseph to continue to spread his message of In , the Steppenwolf Th eater Company of “Peace, Love, and Harmony.” Chicago used the group’s singing and acting abili- Meanwhile, traditional life in South Africa ties in a play written about the era. After continues to change. Cable television, MTV and fi rst premiering in Chicago, Th e Song of Jacob Zulu other international infl uences are taking its toll on opened on Broadway in New York in the spring tradition, and Joseph sees the wonder and the peril of  and was nominated for six Tony Awards, in this progress. Always a man to fi nd faith in his including Best Music for a Play. Joseph and the dreams, Joseph’s life ambition now is to establish group also were honored with the prestigious Dra- the fi rst Academy for the teaching and preservation ma Desk Award for Best Original Score. of indigenous South African music and culture in In , Ladysmith Black Mambazo collabo- South Africa. rated in the staging of Nomathemba, a musical Aside from singing and writing, Joseph contin- based on the fi rst song ever written by Joseph Sha- ues the teaching of young children the traditions balala. Nomathemba was performed in Chicago, his elders taught him. In fact, over the past sev- where it was awarded Best Original Musical Score, eral years, with the retirement of several members and at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center and of the group, Joseph has enlisted the talents of Boston’s Shubert Th eatre. four sons…the next Mambazo generation. While Th e group has been invited to perform at many bringing a youthful energy to the group, it shows special occasions. One event, at the special invita- the world, and Joseph, that his teachings and the tion of President Mandela, was to perform for the traditions of his people will not disappear. Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Th e group has devoted itself to the conscious- Royal Albert Hall in London. Meeting the Queen, ness raising of South African culture, as well as as well as other members of the Royal Family, was Joseph’s intention to fund the Music Academy dur- a stirring moment for the group. As Joseph later ing their U.S. tours. Attracting the fi nancial and said, “To think of all the people we have met over moral support of many, including Danny Glover the years. People from North America, Europe, and , was just the beginning. La- Asia, . Presidents, dignitaries, movie stars, dysmith Black Mambazo’s current and future tours

22 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 23